story: LONDON, England (CNN) -- Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley or the Beatles but he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world. 
  
  Michael Jackson, the ultimate showman, craved attention and was rarely disappointed. 
  
  Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the "King of Pop." The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour in London will leave his devotees feeling even more bereft. 
  
  While his career -- and wealth -- had waned greatly in recent years, there was still enough support for the concerts to sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour. Fans from as far afield as Japan, Germany and Dubai queued to buy their tickets. 
  
  Steve Greenberg, founder and CEO of S-Curve Records, was a disc jockey in Tel Aviv, Israel, when "Thriller" first dropped and witnessed first-hand how Jackson became an international icon. 
  
  His was a global appeal, Greenberg said, among fans and artists worldwide. 
  
  "He was as big in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as he was in America and Europe," Greenberg said. "He had that universality that not many people had. The Beatles had it, Muhammad Ali had it, but not many other people have had it." 
  
  Jackson was known for far more than his music though. Speaking after his death in Los Angeles was announced, U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a "trailblazer" in helping people around the world through his charities. How will you remember Michael Jackson? 
questions: Who was the King of Pop
questions: Who else had the hero worship he did?
questions: What was different about Jackson?
questions: How long was his career
questions: And his sales?
questions: What was about to happen when he died?
questions: Where at?
questions: Was he just big in America?
questions: Where else?
questions: What did AL Sharpton say?
questions: for what?
questions: in doing what?
questions: Did his concerts sell out?>
questions: How fast?
questions: Where was Greenberg when Thiller first came out?
questions: what did he say?
questions: what was he doing there?
questions: What is he now?
questions: What did Greenberg say he and a few others have?
questions: Who else had it?
answers: Michael Jackson
answers: Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the "King of Pop."
answers: Elvis Presley
answers: Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley
answers: he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world
answers: he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world
answers: 40 years
answers: over his 40-year career 
answers: 350 million records
answers: 350 million records over his 40-year career
answers: his comeback tour
answers: The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour 
answers: in London
answers:  tour in London 
answers: no
answers:  massive following around the world.
answers: Japan
answers: as far afield as Japan, Germany and Dubai queued to buy their tickets. 
answers: he paid tribute to him
answers: Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a "trailblazer"
answers: for the work of a "trailblazer
answers:  Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a "trailblazer
answers: helping people around the world through his charities
answers: work of a "trailblazer" in helping people around the world through his charities
answers: yes
answers:  for the concerts to sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour.
answers: at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour
answers: sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour
answers: Tel Aviv, Israel,
answers: was a disc jockey in Tel Aviv, Israel,
answers: "His was a global appeal"
answers: His was a global appeal, Greenberg said
answers: he was a disc jockey
answers: Steve Greenberg, founder and CEO of S-Curve Records, was a disc jockey
answers: founder and CEO of S-Curve Records
answers: founder and CEO of S-Curve Records
answers: He had that universality that not many people had.
answers:  Greenberg said. "He had that universality that not many people had.
answers: The Beatles had it
answers: The Beatles had it, Muhammad Ali had it, 